AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR VISITED ATO PRESIDENT BARAN

BARAN: "WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE OUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH AUSTRIA."

-AMBASSADOR WIMMER: " IT GIVES US BOTH COURAGE AND EXCITEMENT TO SEE THAT ANKARA IS SO ADVANCED IN TERMS OF ECONOMY AND TRADE."

January 10 th 2020- Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) President Gürsel Baran said that historical relations between Austria and Turkey have been strengthening in the past years. "However, $ 2.3 billion trade volume between our two countries is not enough. We would like to develop trade relations with Austria. Furthermore, strengthening the friendly relations between Turkey and Austria would contribute to mutual trade" Baran said.

Austrian Ambassador H.E. Johannes Wimmer and Commercial Attaché Christian Maier visited President of Gürsel Baran. Mr Baran said economic relations between Turkey and Austria continues without the influence of politics. Austria ranks the 4th country in terms of FDIs in Turkey and Austrian investments since 2002 is reported to be almost 11 billion USD, said Baran. "There are 250 thousand Turkish citizens living in Austria, and almost 7.000 Turkish enterprises, which employs approximately 10,000 people." Mr. Baran added.

Mr Baran reminded that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in 2014 to develop bilateral relations between the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, which could be regarded as the first step in long term cooperation between two chambers in various fields, especially in tourism.

President Baran presented Ankara Chamber of Commerce and Ankara economy during the meeting and stated that "We are strong together with our trade, export, entrepreneurs. We are ready to do everything necessary to reach the figures that will make both countries and entrepreneurs happy in a short time by developing our relations with this excitement and spirit."

Ambassador of Austria to Ankara, H.E. Johannes Wimmer, expressed that Ankara is a developed city. "It is both encouraging and exciting for us to see Ankara being developed in terms of economy and trade potential. It is very important for us that Ankara is a place where we can find anything. Austria is a small but economically strong country. We can create a lot of opportunity by bringing Austria and Ankara together. Although our relations with Ankara are good, we will focus on this subject to diversify and expand our activities in different areas. "